Rail-clamp.



No. 760,489.- PATENTBD MAY 24, 1904.. 0. v. ROTE.

RAIL CLAMP.

APPLIUATIONI'ILBD AUG. 15, 1903.

N0 MODEL. 2 8HEHTB-BHEET 1.

No. 760,489. PATENTED MAY 24, 1904.

G. V. ROTE. RAIL CLAMP.

APPLICATION I'ILBDAAUG. 1a, 1903. I no monnn. 2 anus-sum 2.

7 z z 7 w T l w .6 W .F. 5!, g l"i Willi J? 1 a j, 1 x 5 4 UNITED STATES Patented May 24, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES V. ROTE, OF LANCASTER, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO THE POSITIVE RAILWVAY SANDER COMPANY, OF LANCASTER, PENNSYL- VANIA.

RAIL-CLAMP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 760,489, dated May 24, 1904.

Application filed August 15, 1903. Serial No. 169,657. (No model.)

To (all, whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, CHARLES V. Ro'rE, a citi zen of the United States, residing at Lancaster, in the county of Lancaster and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a certain new and useful Rail-Clamp, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to a clamp for railjoints, guard-rails, frogs, switches, crossings, and the like, the object in view being to provide what may be termed a self-binding rail clamp or grip, the parts of which are so constructed, combined, and arranged that the greater weight or strain brought to bear on the rails by the engine and cars passing thereover the more firmly will the clamp grip the rail ends and prevent the breaking or bending downward or laterally of the extremities of the rails.

The rail-joint clamp hereinafter described is applicable directly to the rails in the first instance without the use of the ordinary iishplates or splice-bars and is also applicable to rails already equipped with the ordinary lishplates, &c.

The improved rail-joint clamp hereinafter described is also designed for use in connection with frogs, switches, and the like.

With the above and other objects in view, the nature of which will more fully appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists in the novel construction, combination, and arrangement of parts, as hereinafter fully described, illustrated, and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a view in elevation of a rail-joint clamp constructed in accordance with the present invention and shown applied to a rail, the latter shown in section. Fig. 2 is a section taken longitudinally through the clamp, the latter being shown applied to a rail. Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the same. Fig. 4: is a bottom perspective view of the brace member of the clamp. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of one of the jaws or grips. Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 1, showing the clamp used in connection with the ordinary iish-plates or ,pair of jaws or grips 2, and a camber or truss bolt 3, the latter serving to hold the jaws together and in engagement with the brace and flanges of the rails.

The brace 1 comprises a central body portion 4., having a flat top or upper surface 5, which rests directly in contact with the bottom of the rails, as shown in Fig. 1, in the event of the clamp being applied directly to the rail ends without the interposition of the ordinary fish-plates. The width of the flat top 5 is somewhat less than the width of the base of the rail, so as to allow room for the upper portions of the jaws oi grips 2, as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings. The brace also comprises the outwardly and oppositely extending arms 6, the outward extremities of which are slightly enlarged and rounded, as shown at 7, to form hearings or fulcrums for the jaws 2. The arms 6 are slotted lengthwise of the brace, as shown at.8, in order to receive the end portions of the bolt 3 and in order that the central bend in the bolt may pass under and bear directly against the lower side of the body 4 of the brace in the manner illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2. In the preferred embodiment of this invention the low er surface of the body portion tis rounded, as shown at 9, to correspond with the bend in the bolt 3, so that said bolt may be firmly seated against the body portion of the brace for the purpose of holding the brace tightly against the bottom of the rail. It is also desirable to provide the brace with downwardlyextending lugs 10 at opposite sides of the bolt 3, so as to obviate the liability of any relative lateral movement between the bolt and brace and so as to properly position the bolt in assembling the parts of the clamp and associating the same with the rail ends.

Each of the jaws or grips 2 comprises a lower hook or bill 11, which embraces the rounded bearing portion or fulcrum of one of the arms 6, as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the hook or bill being of such shape as to allow the jaw to adjust itself thereon until the upper end is brought into proper relation to and in engagement with the base-flanges of the rails. Each jaw is also provided at its upper portion with what may be termed a claw, consisting of two lips or flanges 12 and 13, set apart sufliciently to leave a recess 14 between them, in which is received the outer edge of the baseflanges of the rails in connection with which the clamp is used, all as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Each jaw is also provided with a flat outer surface 15, against which the head or nut of the bolt 3 bears firmly. The camber-bolt 3 is bent centrally to pass under the body portion of the brace, as best illustrated in Fig. 2, while the end portions thereof may extend substantially straight. Said bolt may be provided with a head 16 at one end and a nut 17 at the other end. The head 16 may be either polygonal or round, as shown in the drawings, or nuts may be applied to both ends of the bolt, as shown in Fig. 7, and, if desired, locknuts or split washers 18 may be used in connection with the nuts for the usual purpose. The camber-bolt 3 thus acts as a truss for the other parts of the clamp and also for the rail ends and has the tendency of drawing the upper ends of the jaws in firmer engagement with the rails the more weight or strain brought to bear thereon, this being due to the fact that the lower ends of the jaws are prevented from moving toward each other by the brace. If desired, small fish-plates or splice-bars 19 may be bolted to opposite sides of the rail, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Each jaw is provided with an opening 20 for the reception of the camber-bolt 3.

'Where the clamp is to be used in connection with a road already equipped with the ordinary fish-plates 0r splice-bars, as shown in Fig. 6, the lips or flanges 12 and 13 may be arranged far enough apart to receive both the baseflanges of the rails and the lower flanges of the fish-plates. In addition to this it is sometimes found desirable to place a chair-plate or additional splice-bar 21 immediately beneath the bases of the rails, said plate or bar crossing the meeting ends of the rails and having the side or longitudinal edges thereof projecting beyond the opposite edges of the base of the rail, so as to be received in the recesses 14 of the jaws, as shown in Fig. 6. The plate or bar 21 is interposed directly between the bottom rail and the flat top 5 of the brace and for the sake of strength may be provided with ribs 22 on the lower side thereof, as indicated in the same figure, said ribs lying at opposite sides of the body 4: of the brace. The jaws 2 under the arrangement shown in Fig. 6 serve to hold the brace firmly against the plate or bar 21, at the same time holding said bar firmly against the bottom of the rail and also clamping the flanges of the fish-plate or splice-bars firmly against the flanges of the rails.

here the clamp is used in connection with switches or frogs, suitable filler-blocks 23 23 and 23" are placed between and at opposite sides of the rail members, as shown in Fig. 7, while the blocks or bars 23 and 23 may be recessed, as shown at 24, to receive the upper flanges or lips 12 of the jaws, said flanges or lips being shaped at their edges to fit therecesses, as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 7. Under the arrangement last referred to the brace will of course be made of suitable length and the camber or truss bolt of corresponding length. The flat top 5 of the brace will also be made of sufficient length or width to extend beneath the bases of both rails comprised in the frog or switch, as shown. As the rails wear away the blocks 23 and 23 may be reversed, one or both sets at a time. In other words, one of the blocks 23 may be exchanged for one of the blocks 23*, thus decreasing the space between the webs of the rails and compensating for the wearing away of the rails adjacent to the frog or switch.

By making the filler-blocks interchangeable,

as stated, considerable leeway is left for changing the space between the centers of the rails, and thereby making up for wear. The central block 23 is provided with laterallyprojecting lugs which fit into the recesses 24, thereby preventing relative slipping or sliding movement between the blocks 23 and 23 The brace may, if desired, be provided in its upper side with a recess 25 for the reception of a split washer or nut-lock 26, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, said washer being held within the recess 25 and beneath or against the bottom of the base of the rail. The nut-lock or split spring-washer 26 not only acts in the capacity of a nut-lock, but forms a cushion for the rails, and thereby relieves the usual pounding, or what is known as the hammer blow, of the wheels as they pass over the joint. The brace prevents surface wear at the extremities of the rails by obviating the tendcncy of the rails to bend downward under the weight of the cars and the blow of the wheels. It will thus be obvious that changes may be made in the form, proportion. and minor details of construction of the clamp without departing from the principle or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention, and I therefore reserve the right to make such changes as properly fall within the scope of the appended claims. 4

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new is 1. A rail-joint clamp comprising a brace, rail-gripping jaws fulcrumed on opposite portions of the brace, and a bolt connecting the jaws and bearing against the brace in such manner that it acts directly on the brace to force the latter against the rails and also to draw the jaws toward the rails.

2. A rail-joint clamp comprising a brace, rail-gripping jaws l'ulcrumed on opposite portions of the brace, and a camber-bolt connecting the jaws and also engaging the brace.

3. A rail-joint clamp comprising a brace extending beneath the rail, rail-grippingjaws fuicrumed on opposite portions of the brace, and a bolt engaging the jaws above their fulcrum-point for drawing the gripping portions of the jaws into engagement with the rail.

4. A rail-joint clamp comprising a brace, the body portion of which underlies the rail, said brace having oppositely-projecting arms, rail-grfivping jaws fulcrumed on said arms, and a bolt engaging the brace and jaws and acting directly on the brace and jaws to force the same toward and into engagement with the rail.

5. A rail-joint clamp comprising a brace underlying the rail and having oppositelyprojecting arms, rail-gripping jaws fulcrumed on said arms, and a camber-bolt engaging the brace and jaws and operating to force the jaw into engagement with the rail.

6. A rail-joint clamp comprising a brace which underlies the rail and is provided'with oppositely-projecting slotted arms, rail-gripping jaws fulcrumed on said arms, and a camber-bolt engaging the brace and jaws and passing through the slotted arms of the base, said bolt operating to hold the jaws in engagement with the rail.

7 A rail-joint clamp comprising a brace having oppositelyextending arms, rail-gripping jaws fulcrumed on said arms and provided with rail-gripping claws, and a bolt engaging the brace and jaws and operating to hold the claws in engagement with the rail.

8. A rail-joint clamp comprising a brace having a body portion which underlies the rail, oppositely-projecting arms, said brace being provided with a longitudinal slot, railgripping jaws tulcrumed on the arms ofthe brace and provided with rail-engaging portions, and a bolt seated in the slotted brace and engaging the jaws and operating to hold the rail-engaging portions of the jaws against the rail.

9. A rail-joint clamp comprising a brace underlying the rail, rail-gripping jawsi'ulcrumed on opposite portions of the brace and provided with lips or flanges between which the base-flanges of the rails are received, and a bolt engaging the brace and jaws and operating to hold said lips or flanges in engagement with the bases of the rails.

10. A 'ail-joint clamp comprising a b ace having oppositely-projecting arms, rail-gripping jaws provided with hooks or bills embracing the ends of said arms and also provided with rail-engaging portions, and a bolt connecting the jaws at one side of the extremities of the brace-arms and serving to hold the rail-engaging portions of the jaws against the base of the rail.

11. A rail-joint clamp comprising a brace having oppositely-projeeting portions, railgripping clamps having books at one end for engaging the arms of the brace and means at the other end for engaging the base of the rail, and a bolt connecting the jaws and engaging the brace in such manner as to force the brace toward the rail and hold the jaws in engagement with the rail.

12. A rail-joint clamp comprising a brace provided with a recess in its upper surface for the reception of a split washer or nut-loch, rail-grippin g jaws fulerumed on opposite sides of the brace, and a bolt connecting the jaws.

13. A rail-joint clamp comprising a brace having a body portion which lies in contact with the body of the rail, said brace being provided in its upper side with a recess for the reception of a split washer or nut-lock, rail-gripping jaws fulcrumed on oppositelyprojecting arms of the brace, and a bolt ongaging the jaws aud brace and serving to hold the jaws in engagement with the rail.

14. A rail-joint clamp comprising a brace extending-beneath the rails, rail-gripping jaws fulcrumed on opposite ends of the brace, a bolt engaging the jaws and brace, and reversible and interchangeable liller-blocks removably inserted between the rails and also between the rails and jaws, substantially as described.

15. A rail-joint clamp comprising a brace extending beneath the rails, rail-gripping jaws fulcrumed on opposite ends of the brace, a bolt engaging the jaws and brace, filler-blocks inserted between the jaws and outer sides of the rails, and other filler-blocks inserted be tween the rails, the said filler-blocks being provided with interlocking projections and recesses, substantially as and for the purpose described.

In testimony whereof 1 ailix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES 'V. ROTE.

Witnesses: JOHN H. Mamas, PARKE E. SHEE. 

